UPATE 12:50 p.m.
The Costa Rican Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) and Interpol Costa Rica arrested one person early this morning as part of an international child pornography ring bust, originally reported crhoy.com.
OIJ carried out six raids Friday morning, including one at the home of a commercial pilot with the last names LorÃa Pereira, 45, who lives in RÃo Segundo, Alajuela, just north of San José.
Police believe the suspect possessed and distributed child pornography. The OIJ told The Tico Times that LorÃa Pereira did not likely produce the images he allegedly distributed.
The distribution of child pornography in Costa Rica is punishable by up to four years in prison, and the possession of illicit material carries a possible prison sentence of six months to two years.
Additional raids took place in Paso Ancho, San Francisco de Dos RÃos, Guápiles and Siquerres, according to OIJ, where authorities seized computers and electronic equipment, including compact discs.Â
Police carried out simultaneous raids in Argentina, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay in the culmination of an investigation that started in April of this year.
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Video courtesy crhoy.com.
Correction: Friday, Aug. 9, 12:50 p.m. An earlier version of this post incorrectly reported the number of arrests as five. OIJ reported that only one person, age 45, not 55, was arrested in relation to the raids.
